Road gradee and ditcher



(No Model.) 3 3heets-Sheet 1.

M. E. LASHER. ROAD GRADER AND DITOHER.

No. 460,919. Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

as cm, mow-mks msnmmon, n. c.

e (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

M. E. LASHER.

ROAD GRADER AND DITGHER.

Patented Oct. 6,1891.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII llllll 3 b E H S A L M ROAD GRADBR AND DITOHER.

No. 460,919. Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

m ogvnvron w. WM

WWW

ATTORNEY:

s 551390,, PHOYO-Lrrkm, vusumm'an o c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORGAN E. LASHER, OF OIIAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALE TO GEORGEF. BEARDSLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

ROAD GRADER AND DITCHER.

o SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,919, datedOctober 6, 1891.

Application filed May 22, 1890. Renewed June 25, 1891. Serial No.397.432. (N model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORGAN E. LASHER, of

Champaign, in the county of Champaign and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in Road Graders andDitchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which formpart. of

this specification, in whieh- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofinyimprovedroad grading and ditching machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.Fig. 3 is a detail view of the opposite side of the machine. Figs. 4 and5 are detail sectional views of the extensible gearing connections.Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views.

This invention isan improvement in ma 2o chines for grading and makingroads; audits objects are to more effectually throw the earth to thecenter or side of the road, as may be desirable, and to prevent thescrapings or cut earth from accumulating in front of the 2 5scraping-blade, so as to prevent the machine from working properly or toput great strain thereon, and whereby it will not be necessary to throwthe scraper-blade up out of position in order to pass over suchaccumulations of 0 earth.

To this end the invention consists in an endless movable belt above andjust in rear of the scraper-blade and provided with blades which willcatch and drag the earth to one or the other ends of the scrapenbladeand out of the way thereof.

The invention further consists in novel mechanism for driving andtensioning said belt and for vertically adjusting the scraper blade withits belt without disarranging the driving mechanism of the belt.

Another object is to enable side ditches, if desired, to be cutsimultaneously with the grading of the road-bed and to this end Iprovide a cutting-plow at one end of the scraperblade, but supporteddirectly upon the main frame, and which is vertically adjustable also.

The invention further consists in certain other novel details ofconstruction and com- 5 bination of parts, as are hereinafter clearlyset forth, and concisely specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings byletters, Adesignates the main frame of themachine, which is mounted on wheels, the rear axle being rigidlyconnected to the frame, while the front axle or truck is pivotallyconnected thereto, as in ordinary wagons, and to the latter is attachedthe draft-pole.

B is a vertical bar supported by transverse pieces I) b, attached to thefront of the frame A and standing to one side of the front axle, and Ois a similar bar, also supported on transverse pieces (2 0, attached tothe main frame in line with and in rear of the bar B.

D represents a horizontal beam resting against the bars B O and looselyconfined thereto by vertical straps E E, the ends of which are bolted tothe respective bars B C, so that the beam D can be moved vertically.

F designates a Windlass, journaled in bear- 7o ings in or attached tothe upper ends of the bars B O, and G G are ropes or chains suspendingthe beam D from the Windlass F. g is a rope attached to the Windlassnear the bar 0, but wound thereon oppositely to the rope G, and it runsdown under a sheave g, attached to the lower end of the bar 0, and thenup and is secured near the lower edge of the beam D. By this means therear end of the beam D is positively shifted up or down by revolving theWindlass. The beam D projects beyond the barB and the frontof frame A,and to its front end is adjustably attached a rolling colter orguide-wheel H, as shown, and also a friction-roller h, which 8 5 bearsagainst the front face of the bar B and prevents backward movement ofthe beam, and a pin 7L, attached to the beam D at the opposite side ofthe bar B, prevents forward movement of the beam.

I designates a plow-standard, rigidly secured to the beam D aboutcentrally thereof, and J designates a turn-plow of any suitableconstruction, fixed to said standard I, with its landside outermostandthemold'board in- 5 ward, and adapted to turn the earth under the frameA as the machine is drawn forward.

f is a hand-wheel on the Windlass F for revolving the same, and anysuitable devices we may be provided for locking the Windlass in anyposition.

J designates a horizontal beam or frame, suspended from the frame A andlying below the same and diagonally thereof between the front and rearaxles, its forward end lying just behind the plow I, and its rear endextending to a point just in front and a little outside of the rearwheel at the opposite side of the machine.

jj are metallic straps attached to the upper and lower edges at thefront end of the frame J and loosely conuectedto a rod K, which issecured to lugs or ears k, projecting'from or attached to themold-board, standard, and

beam D, as shown, permitting the front end of the frame J to bevertically adjusted, if necessary.

The rear end of the frame J is suspended by a rod L, the upper end ofwhich passes through a vertical bracket M, attached to the side of theframe A in rear of the crosspieces 0 c and is formed with teeth or arack 1 engaged by a pinion m, fixed on a shaft m journaled in thebracket M and operated by a hand-wheel M, so that the rod L may be Anysuitable devices may be used to lock the pinion and hold the rod whenadjusted, and a friction vertically adjusted thereby.

roller m is arranged opposite the pinion m for rod L to bear against.This rod only sup-,

ports the frame J vertically.

N is a draft-rod, attached to the rear side and end of the frame J andbent upward and over the same and forward, its front end being looselyconnected to a vertical staple or keeper n, attached to a block 0 on theends of cross-pieces c opposite the bar 0.

O designates a vertical drum or pulleyjournaled in bearings formed inthe straps j j at the forward end of the frame J, and P is another drumj ournaled in bearings or brackets o 0, attached to the rear end of theframe J similarly to the straps Q designates an endless carrier-belt setvertically or edgewise and running around the frame J, over the drums OP; and it can be tensioned by means of an idler R, mounted on a verticalportion of a bent rod 7', which has its ends journaled in lugs orbrackets r secured to the rear side and about centrally of the frame J.a" is a continuation of said rod,formin g an arm by which it can beshifted, and R is a sector-plate secured to the rear edge of the frame Jabove the idler R, with the notches of which the arm a" can be engagedto lock the idler in any position desired. As illustrated, a textilebelt is shown; but I prefer using endless-chain belting, as being moredurable, and, in this case, the drums would be replaced bysprocket-wheels or have sprocket-teeth. The belt has a series ofvertically arranged scrapers q q, secured to its outer face atintervals, which will drag anything thrown in contact therewith to oneend of the frame according to the direction of revolution of the belt.

T designates a metallic scraping blade or grader suitably-secured to thefront and lower edge of the frame J and curved as ordinaryScraper-blades are. Its upper edge pro ects slightly over the lower edgeof the belt Q, but not to interfere therewith. The front end of theblade T projects just in rear of the moldboard of the plow J, and itsrear end extends beyond the drum P.

U designates a guard-plate attached to the top front edge of the frame Jand bentdown so as to overlie the top edge of the belt Q, thus theportion of the belt passing along the front of the scraper-frame J iskept vertical and its edges shielded from injury.

U designates a bar mounted transversely on the frame A and projecting toone side thereof above the rear end of the frame J, and V is a shortshaft journaled in brackets u u, attached to the projecting end of saidbar U and having a sheave V and a bevel-.

gear 1) on it. W is a short vertical shaft journaled in hearings in theend of the barU and in a box U, attached thereto and having a bevel-gearWV on its upper end engaging the gear v, as shown. To the lower end ofthe shaft V is connected by a universal joint w a short socket-piece w,and P is a short rod telescoping into socket-piece w and angular incross-section, so that it will be rotated with and by said socket-piecew, and this rod P is connected bya universal jointp with the upv per endof the shaft p of the drum P. The universal joints are of any suitableconstruction.

Motion is transmitted to the shaft V by a belt X running over sheave V,and a sheave Y, attached to one of the rear wheels or other mechanismmay be used for driving the belt Q without departing from the principalpoint of my invention.

Z is a platform on the frame A above the scraper-frame, and y z are theseats for the driver and operator.

In operation the machine is drawn forward and the operator, if it isdesired to cut the ditch or use the plow, lowers the same by means ofthe windlass F, as described, thus lowering therewith the front end ofthe scraper-frame. He then adjusts the rear end of the frame, asdesired, so that the surface of the road over which the machine passeswill be properly graded. The movement of the machine will, through themechanism described, impart a movement to the belt Q, causing it torevolve, so that its front portion travels away from the plow. As theearth is thrown up by the plow and accumulates in front of thescraper-blade,if it bank's up and rises above the blade, the pieces (1on the belt will catch and drag it toward the rear end of thescraper-frame, discharging it there. This action enables the machine toproduce better work and greatly relieves the draft strain and the wearandgtear on the scraper-frame.

The sliding and universal joint connections in the devices fortransmitting motion to the scraper-belt allow the scraper-frame to bereadily adjusted without hindering the action of the belt.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent thereon, is

1. In a road-grading machine, the combination, with the scraper-frame,of an endless belt arranged vertically edgewise and in a horizontalplane and mechanism for driving said belt, for the purpose andsubstantially as described.

2. In a road-grading machine, the combination of the main frame, a plowattached thereto, a scraper-frame suspended therefrom, and ascraper-blade attached to the latter frame with an endless carrier-beltattached to the scraper-frame above and parallel with the blade, andmechanism for revolving said belt, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. The combination of the main frame, the vertically-adj nstable plow,and the verticallyad j ustable scraper-frame with an endlessoarrier-belt mounted on the scraper-frame, and mechanism for drivingsaid belt and for ad- 3 usting said plow and scraper-frame,substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the main frame, the Vertically-adjustable beam,the plow suspended therefrom, and the colter on the front end thereofwith the Windlass and ropes or chains for adjusting said beam, and thescrapert'rame connected to said plow and beam and adjustable therewith,and the devices for ad- 3' nstin g the rear end of the scraper-frame,substantially as described.

5. The combination of the main frame and the vertically-adjustablescraper-frame suspended beneath the same and the endless carrier-beltthereon, substantially as described, with the shafting and gearingextensible socket-joint and universal-joint connections for driving saidbelt, substantially as specified.

(5. The combination of the scraper-frame and the endless belt arrangedvertically edgewise and in the same plane as the scraperframe andadapted to operate therewith, substantially as described, with the rodcarrying a tension-roller for the belt and mounted on the scraper-frame,and the segment thereon, for the purpose described.

7. The combination, with the main frame, of the scraper-frame suspendedtherefrom and having a scraping-blade on its lower edge, drums at itsends and an endless belt running thereover and lying verticallyedgewise, and mechanism for driving said belt, for the purpose andsubstantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the main frame, the scraper-frame suspendedtherefrom, and the endless carrier-be1t on said frame,substantiallyasdescribed, of the shaftdriven from one of thesupporting-wheels and geared to a short vertical shaft, and thesliding-joint and universal-joint connections between said verticalshaft and the driving-drum of said belt, substantially as described. I

9. The combination of the main frame, the vertical bars B O, and thevertically-adjustable beam D, confined to said bars and carrying acolter and roller on its front end, with the Windlass journaled on theupper ends of bars B C, the ropes or chains G g for operating said beam,and the plow suspended therefrom, substantially as specified.

10. The combination of the main frame, the vertically-adjust-able beam,the plow suspended therefrom, and the mechanism for elevating said beamwith the scraper-frame having its front end connected to and adjustableWith said plow, thedevices for adjusting the rear end of thescraper-frame and the endless carrier-belt 011 said frame, andmechanism, substantially as described, for operating said belt, allconstructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

11. The combination of the main frame, the vertical bars B O, and thevertically-adjustable beam D, confined to said bars and carrying acolter and roller on its front end, with the Windlass journaled on theupper ends of the bars 13 O, the ropes or chains G g for operating saidbeam, and the plow suspended therefrom, andthe scraper-frame having itsfront end suspended from said beam and its rear end suspended by avertically-adj ustable rod, all constructed and arranged to operatesubstantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

MORGAN Ei LASHER. I IVitnesses:

GEO. F. BEARDSLEY, J. W. LANGLEY.

